The local winery here on Pender Island offers their large tasting room to local artists each weekend of the summer for art shows, and this summer I was invited to add my weaving to a group of four artists- painter (and my mother!) Margaret Alpen, photographers Eve Pollard and Derek Applegarth, and glass jeweller Nancy Westall. The room at Sea Star Vineyards is open and bright, with lots of wall space and a large, plank style table in the centre. It was wonderful to have so much room in which to display scarves and ponchos, rather than trying to fit everything in on a market table! I also really enjoyed seeing my designs blend with the work of the other artists. The colours of Nancy’s jewelry really matched beautifully, and Eve had a photograph that she took of my and Rosie. Also my mother’s west coast arbutus trees and forest paintings created a wonderful sense of place.

I was inspired to focus mainly on pieces in which I had incorporated my hand spun angora fibre from my angora rabbit, Rosie. I have been spinning it in a blend with other fibres, mostly merino and alpaca, and the pure white result is refreshing to weave with. Having a few display mannequins really helped to show the shape of the ponchos, which were the pieces that sold the best! This was my first art show, and it was lovely to chat with the folks that came by, and show them my Saori loom which I brought along to set up.

Another nice touch is the Winery’s request for the artists to donate to a local non-profit organization in lieu of rent for the space.